Sharjah Census 2025 Approved to Drive Informed Economic & Social Policies

What We Learned from the Sharjah Census 2022

Though the Sharjah Census 2025 is just approved, Census 2022 offers insights into what the new data will likely surface and how policy will be shaped:

• Population rose from about 1.4 million in 2015 to 1.8 million by 2022 — a growth of ~22 %.
• The active workforce also expanded by 22 %, reaching 1.1 million people.
• Youth and student enrollment grew: over 310,000 students in education institutions compared with 253,000 before.

These figures provided a basis for infrastructure expansion, public service scaling and housing policy in Sharjah.

Key Policy Areas That Sharjah Census 2025 Will Inform

With the Sharjah Census 2025 approved, data will guide policy in several critical areas:

1. Economic Planning & Job Creation
Knowing precisely how many people are of working age, what sectors are growing, and where skill gaps lie will help government set up targeted workforce training, attract investments, and align education with job market needs.

2. Housing & Urban Infrastructure
As seen from 2022, housing units (including villas, multi-story buildings, etc.) need to keep pace with population growth. Census 2025 will provide updated data to guide residential expansion, utilities, transport, and green spaces.

3. Social Services & Inclusivity
Data on age groups, family structure, nationality mix (Emirati vs non-national), and regional distributions will enable better healthcare, education, welfare, and social inclusion programs. For example, knowing which cities or districts are growing fastest helps direct resources.

4. Education & Youth Development
With a large share of young people (ages 20-39 forming the largest segment in 2022), updated census info will help Sharjah tailor educational infrastructure, skills development, and youth employment strategies.

5. Sustainable Development & Budgeting
Census data feeds into Sharjah’s budgeting (like its recent Dh42 billion budget) and long-term environmental planning, infrastructure support, and quality of life improvements. It ensures funds are allocated where they are most needed.

Challenges & What to Watch for in Census 2025

• Ensuring accuracy and up-to-date data collection methods, especially in rapidly changing districts.
• Addressing data collection for expatriate and migrant populations, given many are transient.
• Managing privacy and data protection, ensuring individuals’ data is used ethically.
• Aligning census findings with real-time policymaking  making sure the delay between data collection and policy deployment is minimized.
  
  

How Residents & Stakeholders Can Benefit

• Citizens and residents will see better-targeted services: localized health care, schools, and infrastructure in places of highest need.
• Businesses can use the data to assess market size, workforce availability, and invest accordingly.
• Government bodies can make evidence-based decisions, reducing waste and improving efficiency.

As Sharjah Census 2025 rolls out, keep an eye on Sharjah Official Portal on UAE Government page about Sharjah with census-based population figures

Conclusion

The approval of Sharjah Census 2025 is a crucial step in enabling informed policy-making for the emirate’s next phase of growth. With population surging, especially in young, working-age segments, accurate data will help shape education, housing, employment, and social welfare policies. As Sharjah plans for the future, this census ensures that decisions rest on solid evidence — helping build a resilient, equitable, and sustainable society.

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